Turning-lathe for axle-boxes



(No Mode1.)' v 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. R. SPEARS. TURNING LATHE FR A'XLE BOXES.

Patented Dec. 11,

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(No model.) 2 sheetssheet 2;

R. R. SPEARS. TURNING LATHB PoR AXLB BOXES.

No. 530,861.A i Patented Deo. 11, 1894,

. @apag/@mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH REED SPEARS, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA. c

TuRNiNe-LATHE FoRAxLE-BoxEs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,861, dated December 11, 1894. Application led November 10, 1893. Serial No. 490,577. (No model.) t

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RALPH REED SPEARS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Wheeling, in the county ofOhio and State of West Virginia, have-invented a ,new and useful Turning-Lathe for Axle-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelatesv to turning lathes for axle boxes; and it has for its object to provide a machine of this character which shall provide simple and efficient means for accurately turning the exterior periphery of ordi nary carriage and wagon axle boxes.

To this end the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In theaccompanyingdrawingsz-Figure lis a side elevation of an axle box turning lathe constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the lathe set for operating upon the large end of the axle box. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig.

l. Fig. 3 is a front view of the cutter head. Fig. 4 is a projected side view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the stationary mandrel employed when the large end of the axle box is being turned. Fig. 6 is asimilar View of the form-mandrel and the guide bush used in connection therewith when turning the axle box from the small end thereof.

Referring to' the accompanying drawings, A represents a lathe bed supported on legs or standards in the usual manner and provided on the top thereofv with'the parallel guides or ways B, extending the entire length thereof. On one end and the top of the lathe bed A, is mounted the head stock C, having the parallel upright bearing arms D, which terminate at their upper extremities in the'bearing boxes E, which form bearings for the hollow live spindle F. Y

The hollow live spindle F, which is mounted for rotation in the bearings E, is hollow throughout the entire length'and carries at a point between the bearing arms of the head stock a drive pulley G, which receives a suitable belt designed to impart motion to the said live spindle and the cutting devices carried thereby. The hollow live spindle F, is pro vided with an inner exteriorly threaded end H, which is adapted to removably receive the rotary cutter head I.

The rotary cutter heads I, are constructed in widths depending upon thelength of axle boxes being turned, and as clearly shown in the drawings each of such cutter heads I, is provided with an interiorly threaded opening J, which engages the threads of the exteriorly threaded end of thehollow spindle, so that the cutter head will be rotated by such spindle. The cutter head1, is provided with a series of radial slots K, which accommodate the adjustable cutter bits L, fitting therein. The several cutter bits L, are adapted to be adj usted according to the size of the axle box ybeing operated upon, and such adjustment is secured by means of the adjusting screws M, mounted in the retaining band. or ring, N, which exteriorly encircles the cutter head, and working into the outer ends `of theslots K, against the outer ends of the cutter bits, which are provided with inner beveled cutting edges O. The cutter bits L, are held fast in any adjusted position by means of the long binding screw P, also passing through the retaining band or ring N, and the body of the head I, so as to enter the slots of the cutter bits therein.

The work is moved onto the revolving cutter head I, by the sliding feed carriage Q. The sliding feed carriage Q, is mounted to j slide on the parallel guides or ways B, of the lathe bed, and is provided on the bottom thereof with the feed rack q, adapted to be engaged-,bythe feed pinion QQ mounted on the'feed shaft R, journaled transversely in the top portion of the lathe bed, and carrying at one enda feed wheel r, by means of which the carriage can be moved to and awa from the cutter head. The said slidingfeed carriage Q, is provided at its inner end facing the cutter head with an integral upwardly extending vise block S, having on the top face thereof atransyerse dove-tail tongues, which adj nstably receives the oppositely moving vise jaws s', provided with the bottom dovetail grooves s2, which embrace the tongue of the vise block and thereby connect the jaws by a sliding connection or joint with such vise block. i

The oppositely moving vise jaws s', which K, at one side projecting are mounted to slide on top of the vise block s, are provided with reversely threaded openings T, which are adapted to receive the right and left screw threaded adjusting screw t, carrying at one end a hand wheel t', and providing means for moving the vise jaws to and away from each other. The said vise jaws are provided with inner adjacent circularly ared and tapered vise faces, which, together, correspond to the exterior shape of an ordinary axle box t2, which is designed to. be clamped therebetween, and as is clearly illustrated in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, said axle box is shown as clamped in position between the vise jaws registering therewith, and presenting the large collar end thereof for the cutter head to operate upon.

Immediately in rear or at one side of the vise block at the inner end of the feed car riage is adjustably mounted the post block U. The post block U, is adjustably clamped on top of .the feed carriage by means of the securing screws 1c, passing through its base and engaging anyone of the series ot' threaded openings in the feed carriage. The post block U, is provided at its upper end with a cylindrical opening u', which removably receives the round shank u2, of the conical central post n3, the pointed end of which is adapted to fit in the small end of the axle box, when clamped in the position shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, so as to hold and center the axle box which is prevented from turning between the vise jaws by the lugs or flanges at the large end thereof. The post block U, is adjusted to and away from the vise according to the length of the axle box being operated upon.

Assuming the axle box to be in the position shown in Figs. l and 2, the feed carriage is `now moved upto the rotary cutter head until the large end of the axle box is carried into the center opening of the cutter head, surrounded by the cutting edges of the radial cutter bits, and arranged in this central opening of the cutter head is the cylindrical guide collar V, which is slightly tapered so as to snugly receive and t inside of the large end of the axle box when being operated upon. This guide collar V, is clamped on one end of the longitudinally movable mandrel o, which is arranged inside of the hollow spindle F, and is provided at one end with the reduced portion c', to receive the collar V, and the nut '02, binding the same thereon, while the other end of the mandrel projecting beyond the outer end of the hollow spindle is squared, as at W, to receive the squared opening w, at the upper end of the spring w", secured to one end of the head stock. As soon as the large end of the axle box has been forced tight onto the guide collar V, the mandrel fu, will be moved outward against the tension of the spring lw', so as to keep the guide collar inside of one end of the axle box while the cutter head is operating on such axle box, and when the feed carriageis moved away from the cutter head, the mandrel will be moved, under the tension of the spring, so as to force the axle box back with the feed carriage and out of the cutter.

When the small end of the axle box is to be operated on u p to the lugs or anges nearest the large end, the stationary mandrel and its attachments are removed from the hollow spindle, as well as the conical center post u, and in place of this center post a form-mandrel X, is employed. The form mandrel X, is of a shape which registers snugly with the interior of the axle box, which together with such mandrel can be properly clamped in the vise to present the proper end of the axle box, and the said formmandrel is provided at the reduced end thereof with the projecting guide tongue fr, which is adapted to slide in the cylindrical guide bush Y, fitted in the inner threaded end of the hollow spindle, after the stationary mandrel hasbeen removed. The operation of cutting the tapered portionof the axle box is substantially as just described for the other end, and will be clear to those skilled in the art.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a turning lathe for axle boxes, the combination of the live spindle mounted fixedly at one end, a cutter head mounted on one end of said spindle and having a central opening, a self-adjusting spring-projected work guide arranged to move within the central opening of the cutter head and adapted to be normally projected out of said central opening beyond the cutter head, and a sliding feed carriage adapted to be moved to and from the cutter head, substantially as set forth.

2. In a turning lathe for axle boxes, the combination with the lathe bed; lof a hollow spindle mounted at one end of the bed, a rotary cutter head mounted on the inner end of said spindle and having a central opening, a cylindrical guide bush adapted to be fitted in the inner end of the hollow spindle in a line with the central opening of the cutter head, a work vise adapted to be moved to and from the cutter head, and a form-mandrel of an exterior shape corresponding to the interior shape of an axle `box and provided at one end with a guide tongue adapted to work iu said guide bush, substantially as set forth.

3. In a turning lathe of the class described, the combination of the lathe bed having a head stock at one end, a live spindle journaled on the head stock, a rotary cutter head mounted on the inner end of the live spindle, a sliding feed carriage mounted on the lathe bed, and provided at one end with an up- IOO IIC

wardly extended vise-block, simultaneously adjustable vise jaws mounted on said block, a post block adjustably secured directly on top of the carriage at one side of the Viseblock thereof, a conical work holding center post having a shank removably mounted in the upper end of said post block, and a rack and pinion device for moving the feed carriage in either direction, substantially as set forth.

4. In a lathe of the class described, the combination of the lathe bed having a bearing head block at one end, a hollow live spindle journaled on said head block and threadedy at its inner end, an interiorly threaded ro tary cutter head removably mounted on the threaded end of the spindle and having aseries of radialslots, cutter bits loosely arranged in said slots, a separate and independent retaining band or ring encircling the cutterhead, adjusting screws mounted in said ring or band and working against the outer ends of the cutter bits to adjust the same, binding screws working in the cutter head and against one side of the cutter bit-to hold the same stationary in an adjusted position, and the sliding feed carriage, substantially as set forth. v p Y 5. In a lathe for turning axle boxes, the combination of the lathe bed, a hollow live spin- 3o working in the central opening of the cutter 4o head, the sliding feed carriage, and the work holding center post mounted on said feed carriage, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 45 the presence of two witnesses. y

RALPH REED SPEARS.

Witnesses:

THEO. ScnULTzn, I WM. Gr.-PnIcHAnD.A

beyond both ends 35 

